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Latest News

Daily sex urged for budding dads

Sex after baby LOUISE HALL | Having sex every day improves the quality of men's sperm and is recommended for couples trying to conceive.

Are you leaving it too late?

pink_baby_90x60 LOUISE HALL | Fertility experts have called for an urgent public debate on the trend for women to delay motherhood because many of them still do not understand how rapidly fertility declines after the age of 35.

Directory
  1. Find Assisted conception services
  2. Looking for fertility and conception advice?
  3. Find natural remedies and therapists

'Our world was shattered': couple's last embryo destroyed in mix-up

upset couple HELEN CARTER | A British couple's last hopes of having another child have been destroyed after a clinic mistake meant their final embryo was implanted in another woman.

Spring is time more babies are sprung

spring_babies90x60 ANDREW BOCK | June is a popular month to make love. So are the months of October, November, December and January.

Directory

How to have a baby on a budget

baby_1_90x60 JODIE MCEWEN 5 Jun | We didn’t set out on this parenthood journey looking to become financially rich, and yes, it takes money to raise a family. But how much does it really cost?

How 'social egg-freezing' is putting motherhood on ice

Egg donation the gift of life LIZ PORTER 1 Jun | Women in their 30s are trying to outsmart the biological clock by freezing their eggs, writes Liz Porter.

Infertile couples paying a heavy price for Labor

morrison_90x60 SCOTT MORRISON MP, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR COOK 28 May | Families are being forced to pay an extra $2000 per cycle of IVF treatment in this year's budget. Scott Morrison MP, Federal Member for Cook, shares his story.

IVF twins more prone to need intensive care

ivftwins_90x60 ADAM CRESSWELL 22 May | Twins born as a result of IVF treatment are more likely to be admitted to intensive care soon after birth, and more prone to being hospitalised in the first three years of life than naturally conceived twins.

Budget removes safety net for IVF parents

Budget and IVF JULIE ROBOTHAM | Proposed changes to the Medicare safety net could result in thousands of dollars of extra out-of-pocket charges for families attempting pregnancy through in-vitro fertilisation or receiving care from a private obstetrician, say specialist doctors and patient groups.

Is the weight worth it?

Is the weight worth it? KYRA SIM 11 May | “Lose weight” … it’s a prescription you may hear from your doctor or midwife to improve your chances of fertility. They dispense it so easily but is it really that important? Can you afford to ignore it?

Stem-cell injection may increase fertility

Stem cell placenta and umbilical cord research IAN SAMPLE | Infertile women may one day be given stem-cell injections to repopulate their ovaries with eggs.

Discuss conception with EB members!

Are you trying to conceive? 20 Feb | Are you thinking about trying to conceive (TTTC) or trying to conceive (TTC)? Perhaps you're after information on assisted conception or donors? Ask for tips or help others in the Essential Baby conception forums.

Conception essentials

Fact sheets

  • Pregnancy symptoms: am I pregnant?
  • Ten steps to a balanced diet during pregnancy
  • Breast cancer
  • Books to read on pregnancy and parenting

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Newsletters

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News archive

  • Brighter outlook for IVF babies
  • Age-old question of IVF funding
  • Biological clock ticks for men, too
  • Men urged to make sperm will
  • Birds, bees and IVF
  • Takeaway baby boom
  • Women raise voice when most fertile
  • Misconceiving
  • Huge rise in obese mums-to-be
  • Fertility treatment link to rise in defect risk
  • Putting the kids on ice
  • IVF boost for women in 40s
  • Study questions fertility choices
  • Kiwi sperm quality in decline
  • Baby don't wait
  • IVF turns 30
  • Men's fertility decreases after 35
  • Sperm tablet fertile ground for debate
  • Weigh up the risk for baby
  • Policy to insure against birth defects
  • Brighter IVF outlook
  • IVF creates anxious Mums

Features

Why was I made, Mummy?

Why was I made, Mummy? For me, my experience on IVF was so inspiring I wrote a book about it, chronicling my story and those of others many of whom I found on the Essential Baby forum.

Ready to start a family?

Are you ready for a baby? Having a child is almost certainly the biggest responsibility you will face. They turn your life (and house!) upside down and all of a sudden you have a small life whose existence depends on you.

Directory

The Baby Doctor

Baby Doctor: Explaining IVF to your children A new picture book, The Baby Doctor – Explaining IVF to Your Child, created by Essential Baby members Leah Bryan and Sara Riches can help the parents of IVF children explain the special way they came into the world.

Egg donation: the gift of lifetime

Egg donation the gift of life Donating an egg to another woman is a complex emotional and legal process that few are willing to tackle. What motivates women to pursue being an egg donor?

A plan for parenthood

Make a plan for parenthood Fancy a slice of shark's fin, camel hump stew or a bowl of hot chilli peppers? Having a better lifestyle can greatly improve your chances of falling pregnant.

  • The value of reading to children

    The value of reading

    By reading to our children, we are fostering curiosity, imagination and creativity and increasing the chance of academic success and positive life experiences.

  • EB blogger Ghania Dib

    Discussing death with your children

    As a mother, I have discovered that there are a number of topics which are difficult to explain to young children. One particular topic is death.

  • Mothers managing work and family

    Working Mum?

    Are you doing the working Mum juggle? Chat with other working Mums in the EB forums.

  • Sex after baby

    Daily sex urged for budding dads

    Having sex every day improves the quality of men's sperm and is recommended for couples trying to conceive.

  • Collette Dinnigan

    Collette Dinnigan – mother and designer

    Collette Dinnigan is one of Australia’s most successful fashion designers. A working mother, Collette took the time to chat with Essential Baby about how motherhood has taught her to slow down.

  • pink_baby_90x60

    Are you leaving it too late?

    Fertility experts have called for an urgent public debate on the trend for women to delay motherhood because many of them still do not understand how rapidly fertility declines after the age of 35.

  • fertile plant

    Find out when you're fertile

    Increase your chances of getting pregnant by determining when you are most fertile with Essential Baby's Ovulation Calculator.

  • Guidelines for harmonious living

    Creating family rules

    Children need to be socialised so that they can live and work successfully in the world at large.

  • Working Mums share their tips on getting everyone up and out the door!

    Practical tips for working Mums

    Essential Baby members and full-time working mothers share their tips on how they juggle work, children, and getting everyone up and out the door every morning. On time!

  • 90x60_redbag

    Packing your hospital bag

    The days of grabbing your keys, mobile and wallet and heading out the door are soon to be over, and it all starts with the birth!

  • Natalie Bloom

    Natalie Bloom - mother, businesswoman

    Natalie Bloom who took her hobby into a global business chats with Essential Baby about the challenges of being a working mother and how making an effort to get ‘me time’ makes her a better mother.

  • ed picks

    Editor's Pick

    Choosing what to feature in Ed's Picks is the hard part! This edition we feature EMU boots (for Mums), Itch clothing, Sleepy Bub's massage oil and more...

  • Paid maternity leave

    Working Mums

    Find all you need to know about parental leave, the baby bonus, family tax benefits, child care rebates and more in Essential Baby's comprehensive guide to the Federal Budget.

  • tracy_jane_90x60

    Remembering Jane: Tracy Bevan on Jane McGrath

    22nd June 2009 is the one year anniversary of Jane McGrath's passing. Tracy Bevan speaks about her best friend Jane and her battle with breast cancer to Tracey Spicer.

  • Products and Competitions

    Essential Baby Bargains

    We bring you the latest bargains on baby and kids' clothes, nursery items and toys.

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We are Discussing...

  • Recommended time frame for b/feeding
  • Best baby socks for staying on!
  • Community Preschools NSW to possibly end 2011?
  • Don't know if this is where I belong? But I need some guidance...
  • Suggestions for art work/prints for toddler room
  • How do I explain to DS that dad is really sick
  • Due 16th - 31st Jan, 2010 #8
  • Due 1st - 15th Feb, 2010 #4
  • WDYT is the best PC game ever..
  • For the Twilight and True Blood fans

Essentials

300w_pregnancy_test1

Increase your chances of getting pregnant

Determine when you are most fertile with Essential Baby's Ovulation Calculator.

Kylie Orr's blogWhose party is it really?

Kylie Orr For my eldest son's first birthday, my husband suggested we find a babysitter and go to the pub. The child would not know the difference and we needed to celebrate the fact we were still alive.

Mum in ProfileCollette Dinnigan – mother and designer

Collette Dinnigan Collette Dinnigan is one of Australia’s most successful fashion designers. A working mother, Collette took the time to chat with Essential Baby about how motherhood has taught her to slow down.

Joseph Kelly's blogPoor Dad's hair raising experience

EB blogger Joseph Kelly Frances and Maisie have borrowed one distinctive characteristic from my youth – the blond afro. While Maisie’s curls have started to grow out, Frances has such a tightly sprung head of hair she looks like the unkempt spawn of Sideshow Bob. All of which is great until you try and run a comb through it.

Amity Dry's blogSurrogacy - could you do it?

Amity Dry Sarah Jessica Parker and actor husband Matthew Broderick have welcomed twin baby girls born to a surrogate. EB Blogger Amity Dry discusses the emotional minefield the experience must be for all involved.

Feature memberA beautiful but broken heart

Ky and Mark and their children Daniel and Bella. Scratch just below the surface and you will find a family who is grieving the loss of three children.

This month's favesEditor's Pick

ed picks Choosing what to feature in Ed's Picks is the hard part! This edition we feature EMU boots (for Mums), Itch clothing, Sleepy Bub's massage oil and more...

Conception

Conception | Essential Baby Parenting Australia
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Toddler

Toddler | Essential Baby Parenting Australia
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Kids

Kids | Essential Baby Parenting Australia
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Essential Baby is the place to find great information, resources and support relating to conception, pregnancy, birth, baby, toddlers, kids and parenting.  Find information about conception, pregnancy, maternity, baby names, contact information for baby support services and more. You can shop online for baby clothes, maternity clothes, maternity accessories, breastfeeding clothes and nursing wear, nappies, mothers bags, baby toys, nursery products and more.  You can also access our very active discussion groups to talk to others about conception, pregnancy, birth, baby and parenting or to get advice on shopping for maternity wear.

Today's Top 5 Articles

 
Today's Top 5 Articles
  1. Daily sex urged for budding dads
  2. The value of reading
  3. Do your in-laws drive you crazy? Coping tips for new parents
  4. Taking your kids to the office
  5. Are you leaving it too late?
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